Flying-machine.



L.. H. BYU?.

,FLYING mAcHuss.

APPLICATION FILED APH. 2B. 1905- RENEWED OCT. 19,19l5

19jl595@@ Patented Dec. SM5.

4 SHEETS-S I e tor if y Altmmeys.

L.- HJ ovm.

FLYBNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. 1905;/ RENEWED OCT. 19, i915.

Elgg@ Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEE-T 2.

Witn esses Attorneys.

.. H. OVER.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. |905. RENEWED OCT. i9, 1915. kg@ mem-51 im. 289 19115.

itn esses M7 Wgr l v" fr "A f .s Attorneys.

L. H. DYER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, I905. n ENEwED ocT. I9. 1915.

Llw. Patented Dec. 2s, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Witnesses If Iv tmf Attorneys.

LEONARD H. DYER; 0F GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 28, 1905, Serial No. 257,938. Renewed October 19, 1915. Serial No. 56,796.

T0 all whom z't may concern Be it known that I, LEONARD H. DYER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Greenwich, county o f Fairfield, State of Connecticut, and formerly .a resident of East Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented a Certain new and useful Improvement in Flying-Machines, of which the following is aspecificatlon.

The object I have in view is the production of a device by means of which successful mechanical flight may be accomplished. My idea is to employ the lifting effect of aeroplanes combined in the complete machine with a suitable propeller, so that sufficient velocity may be secured to sustain the apparatus in the air. Many devices have been made to accomplish this purpose, but so far as I am aware, they have been unsuccessful except as, small models, which have been unable to carry a person. In order to get a suflicient liftingv effect of the aeroplanes` the ap )aratus must be propelled at high speed. eretofore, so far as I am aware, all devices of this nature have been designed as complete flying machines before being tried. No one has attempted to produce a device which will be `propelled through the air at a suflicient velocity to secure the desired lifting effect and still be attached to the stable supporting medium. vAll such prior devices therefore, in order to be successful must be entirely successful at the outset orelse be utter failures.

v Suflicient data has been secured by investigation respecting the construction and ac-- complishments of the aeroplanes and aerial propellers to make a lflying machine practical if this were all that is necessary. The

practical objections, however, have not yetl been overcome, and on account of the manner in which the subject has heretofore been attacked can notbe overcome unless a complete andpractical machineshouldfiibe made and succeed in flying at the first trial. In addition to this, no one, so far as I am aware, has yet had the practical experience necessary to undertake the proper guidance of a flying machine sufficiently large to support him. The practical difficulties lie not so milch in the design of the machine with its supporting aeroplanes and propelling mechanism, as in the balancing of the ma-V chine. A flying machine of this type must be accurately balanced, by means such as horizontal rudders or shifting weights, such means being provided to keep the. device from diving or shooting upward or turning over sidewise. Such mechanism has not yet so far as I am aware reached a practical form, and will not ever reach such a form if the present methods of experimentation be followed without change. This is because as I have already pointed out, the'complete machines heretofore made must either successfully fly at once or else not ily at all. As a flying machine owing to its inherent characteristics must be of a very fragile character, it is liable to become broken or entirelv destroyed after every flight, until the balancmg devices are perfecte l.

I propose to equip the device with propelling mechanism and aeroplanes and fit it for travel upon anstable supporting medium. The device Will be modified 'according to the character of this supporting medium. If it is intended to float -upon water, the device will be'provided with one or more hulls, for supporting it while it is at rest and`moving slowly and with hydro-planes for lifting it to the Surface of the water when moving at a 'higher speed; if intended to travel upon the ice or snow, it will be provided with runners or skates and if for use upon land, such as the ocean beach, or some other hard and level surface,\wheels will be provided.

The device will be run upon its supporting medium and the size, number and shape of the aeroplanes adjusted, and the balance of the device also adjusted until the front end of .the device can be lifted up and be entirely supported in the air. In this position the device could be adjusted, and a great deal of important data: asf; to the lifting effect of ythe aeroplanes and the propellinol effect of the propeller could be secure The device will be provided with a rudder, which would engage with the supporting medium and also will have an aero rudder for guiding the device horizontally. This latter rudder would be relied upon when the device is in its partially supported position,

`and much important datay would be secured Patented Dec. 28, i915..

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the device to assume approximately a hori-` zontal position. When in this position, it would be connected to the supportingframe by mechanism which would prevent diving or rising of the front end, and would indicate the amount of pressure upward or downward of the elevated end of the device. The horizontal balancing mechanism could be then perfected until the device could travel on a substantiallyhorizontal plane without needI of any support other than the pivotal connection to the secondary frame. After this mechanism Should become sulficiently perfected and the operator acquiring the necessary skill and experience, further developments could ,be made by .adding mechanism such as' horizontal` rudders at the sides or shifting weights to prevent upsetting. To allow `this to be demonstrated, instead ofthe two wheels, skates or hydroplanes, but a single center support would be y used. After this mechanism has been perfected and the operator has acquired the necessary experience, then the supplemental frame could be lifted and the device would be entirely lsupported upon the air. rl`he supplemental frame need not be discarded inthe complete machine, as it will be useful in starting. and bringing the machine to rest. Furthermore, I would regard it as great use in securing the proper balance of the perfected machine. The subject matter of the present invention, therefore, is not` limited to machines for experimenting or instruction, but can be applied to the complete commercial devices.

In order to better understand my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a digrammatic view of a device embodying my invention adapted for use upon the water. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a device foruse upon ice or snow. Figs. 3 and 4 are devices for use upon land.. Fig. 5 is a top view of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in' Fig. 4.' Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of a refinement of a device for use upon land,`tlie machine being at rest or proceeding slowly. Fig. 7 is a view of the same device but proceeding at sufficient velocity to elevate one end. Fig. 8 is a view of the same device, but with balancing mechanism applied and with the body approximately horizontal. Fig. 9 is an end view of the device showing the arrangement whereby the device may be supported upon a single wheel. Fig. 1() is a side view of the device entirely supported upon the air. Fig. 11 is a top view and Fig. 12 is a side view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the details of construction. Fig. 13 is a front view of the same. Fig. 11 is an enlarged section taken on the lines-1l, 14, of Fig. 11, showing the construction of the hull.

In all the several views like parts are designated by the salne reference characters.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a hull provided with a propelling engine 2, an aerial propeller 3, and aeroplanes 4 and 5. 6 is a rudder-Which is shown partially dipped into the water. In such a device when at rest, it would oat in the water in the position shown in Fig.

12. lVhen propelled it would be supportedl upon the hull 1 until by the action of the hydroplanes 7 the hull Awould'be lifted out of the water and the device supported upon the surface thereofentirely by the lifting effect of the hydroplanes. Experiments could now be made with the aeroplanes 4 and 5 until a suiiicient lifting effect be lsecured to elevate the front end of the device as shown in Fig. 1. Experiments would then be made with the aeroplanes y5 and by 'balancing the device so that a minimum amount of weight would bear upon the rear most hydroplane 7. The rudder 6 could then be changed in shape as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 so that itwould no longer engage with the supporting water. The'size and shape of the rudder and its controlling mechanism could then be determined to suit actual conditions.

In Fig. 2 instead of hulls 1 and hydroplanes 7, skates 8 and 9 are provided, preferably a single skate S and two rear supporting skates 9. The rudder 6 in this instance, is provided with an elastically depressed member 10, whichwill engage with the ice with sufficient force to serve as a rudder. This member could be omitted if the apparatus is in such a condition-as to get valong without it. v

In Fig. 3 isi shown a structure in which the motor 2 is connected to the rear wheels 1 1, the front supporting wheel 12 being connected to and operating the rudder 13 being operated by suitable mechanism (not shown). This device could be used for experimenting with the forward rudder, and also with the lifting effect of the aeroplanes. In Fig. 4 the aerial propeller is in the rear andthe device is steered bythe rear wheels 11. These wheels are mounted upon supports .11 connected to the steering device 15.

In Figs. 6 ,to 10 inclusive, the device is iin-.eaten provided with van auxiliary or secondary rframe 16. This frame is pivoted at 17 to the center of the machine and is provided with two Yor more supporting Wheels 18. As shown in Fig. 9, three supporting Wheels in the rear are used, the center Wheel 19 being connected to the secondary frame 16, While the outside 'balancing Wheels 18 are connected to a tertiary frame 20. This tertiary frame is pivoted at 21 to the auxiliary frame 16 and is provided with mechanism such as a rope 22 for lifting it and disengaging the Wheels 18 from the ground. The auxiliary frame 16 may be elevated by means of a rope, but is preferably provided with a rigid member 23 which Will pass adjacent to the support or backbone 24 of the device, which will be provided at 25 with a suitable device for securing it to the upright 23, or for measuring the vertical stress upon it. The device shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is of service in ascertaining the lifting effect of the aeroplanes, the stress of the propeller and the controlling edect of the rudder 6. Toithe device shown in ldig. 7 a horizontal rudder 26 could beattached, and data secured from experiments therewith. The controlling effect of this horizontal rudder or any other mechanism Which may be found useful for the same, purpose could then be secured, While the machine is running in the position shownvinlig. 7. The.

controlling mechanism having been suciently perfected, the device could be run in the position shown inllig. 8, the upright 23 being secured to lthe backbone 24, and data secured as to the stress upon it, so that improvements could be made in the entire balancing mechanism. When the device in Fig. 8 is so perfected that it can travel, with the auxiliary frame` 16 free to balance upon its pivot 17, then the side rudders 27, or Weights or other means for vaccomplishing the same purpose canlbe provided.` .11n order to amake practical experiments with these devices the tertiary frame 20 could be lifted up and the device run upon the single Wheel 19.

After the device is suiiiciently perfected to travel upon a single Wheel the auxiliary frame 16 `can then be elevated, or the device lifted suliciently clear of its supporting medium to permit it to be supported entirely upon 4the air. lt is to be understood that in lieu of the Wheels, skates 'or hydroplanes may be employed. As shown .in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, like a caster so that the machine will be controll'ed entirely by the rudder 6, but if necessary means can be provided for controlling the device While all of the Wheels are the front Wheel 28 is mountedA upon the ground by means of the steering Wheel 28.

ln the practical embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 11 to 14: inclusive, the hull 1 is very lightly made and is provided -Wlth a king piece 29 arc shaped, secured at its end to the straight keel 80. Continuous frames 31 extend from the keel to the king piece and will be secured to the latter. rlhe planking 32 is shown as extending only part Way up the sides, merely a suilicient distance to 'be above the Water line. Above this point oiled silk or paper 83 or other light material can be provided to keep out the spray. Braces 34 at intervals serve as supports for the hydro-planes 7, the latter being further secured to horizontal members 35. The aeroplanes as shown are supported upon the hull by suitable vertical and diagonal braces. n

ln certain of the following-claims the expression for substantial periods of time appears. l intend this expression to mean a period of time long enough for the apparatus to be in actual Hight yafter having arisen from its supporting medium, and before it again comes back upon such medium. l also employ the term stable medium, which l intend to meanfany substance, such as land, water or ice, which is not the atmosphere.

'lh'e device for traveling on the Water disclosed herein is not claimed in this application, but forms the subject-matter of a divisional application filed by me February 10, 1911, Serial No. 607,768.

Having now described my invention, what ll claim and desire to securel by lietters Patent, is.:.-

1. llnaa flying machine, the combination with propelling means and an aeroplane, of traveling means vsupported upon a stable medium, the said traveling means including means to prevent sidewise displacement of the machine, and means for disconnecting the said latter means.

A 2. ln a flying machine, the combination LEONARD H. lllltlft. Vitnesses:

JNO. litosfr TAYLOR, JOHN liorscH. 

